ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Digoxin increases the risk of early death in patients with heart problems, large study shows
• 'Fuzzy thinking' in depression, bipolar disorder: New research finds effect is real
• Shale-drilling additives in drinking-water taps near leak, new technique shows
• Study finds inhibitor for COPD lung destruction
• Racial differences in male breast cancer outcomes
• Primary care visits available to most uninsured, but at a high price
• Bystander CPR helps cardiac arrest survivors return to work
• New link between diabetes, Alzheimer's found
• Premature birth alters brain connections
• Researchers 'un-can' the HIV virus
• Scientists dramatically improve method for finding common genetic alterations in tumors
• Recurrence of prostate cancer detected earlier with innovative PSMA-ligand PET/CT
• Cellular bubbles used to deliver Parkinson's meds directly to brain
• Puget Sound's clingfish could inspire better medical devices, whale tags
• Detecting knee-cushion problems early could lead to better treatments
• Moderate exercise may make cancer treatments more effective, kinesiologist finds
• Discovery could help reverse glucocorticoid resistance in some young leukemia patients
• How does a mobile DNA sequence find its target?
• Youth just as likely to try e-cigarettes as smoking
• Cost-effective expert recommended asthma test underutilized by physicians, study shows
• Revolutionary method of making RNAs
• Study points to possible treatment for lethal pediatric brain cancer
• School competitive food policies appears tied to neighborhood socioeconomics
• Study examines incidence of concussion in youth, high school, college football
• Kids likely to sleepwalk if parents have history of nocturnal strolls
• Scientists reconcile three unrelated theories of schizophrenia
• Foundations of heart regeneration uncovered: Outer layer of heart must be healed first
• Human clinical trials begin for deadly hendra virus therapy
• Researchers hope to improve dental health by changing caregiver's behavior
• Personal cues can have a strong effect on craving in individuals with addiction
• Psychological technique helps smokers quite tobacco
• Sixth DNA base discovered?
• Impact of family, neighborhood on mental health revealed in comprehensive study
• New test predicts sudden cardiac death in hemodialysis patients
• Exposure to air pollution in the first year of life increases risk for allergies
• Rheumatoid arthritis patients at increased risk of surprise heart attack
• How chickenpox virus can cause a stroke in an HIV patient
• Researchers find clues that may predict recovery outcomes following total hip replacement
• Sports: 'Performance enhancing' drugs decrease performance
• Keeping legalized marijuana out of hands of kids

Digoxin increases the risk of early death in patients with heart problems, large study shows Posted: 04 May 2015 06:07 PM PDT There is conflicting evidence about whether digoxin, a drug that has been used worldwide for centuries to treat heart disease, might contribute to an increase in deaths in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or congestive heart failure (CHF). Now, the largest review of all the evidence to date shows that it is associated with an increased risk of death in these patients, particularly in those being treated for AF.

'Fuzzy thinking' in depression, bipolar disorder: New research finds effect is real Posted: 04 May 2015 02:10 PM PDT People with depression or bipolar disorder often feel their thinking ability has gotten "fuzzy", or less sharp than before their symptoms began. Now, researchers have shown in a large study that effect is indeed real – and rooted in brain activity differences that show up on advanced brain scans.

Shale-drilling additives in drinking-water taps near leak, new technique shows Posted: 04 May 2015 01:35 PM PDT Substances commonly used for drilling or extracting Marcellus shale gas foamed from the drinking water taps of three Pennsylvania homes near a reported well-pad leak, according to new analysis from a team of scientists.

Study finds inhibitor for COPD lung destruction Posted: 04 May 2015 01:35 PM PDT Newly published observations in patients and experiments in mice provide evidence that cigarette smoke reduces expression of the protein NLRX1 in the lung, taking the restraints off a destructive immune response that results in COPD. The researchers hope that pinpointing the protein's role could lead to improved COPD risk assessment, diagnostics, and treatment.

Racial differences in male breast cancer outcomes Posted: 04 May 2015 01:35 PM PDT While black and white men under age 65 diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer received similar treatment, blacks had a 76 percent higher risk of death than whites, research shows. Male breast cancer is a rare disease, accounting for less than 1% of all cancers in men and approximately 2% of all breast cancers in the United States. Black men have a higher incidence of breast cancer and are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age than their white counterparts.

Primary care visits available to most uninsured, but at a high price Posted: 04 May 2015 01:34 PM PDT Uninsured people in the United States don't have any more difficulty getting appointments with primary care doctors than those with insurance, but they get them at prices that are likely unaffordable to a typical uninsured person, according to new research.

Bystander CPR helps cardiac arrest survivors return to work Posted: 04 May 2015 01:34 PM PDT In Denmark, more bystanders performing CPR contributed to more cardiac arrest survivors returning to work, a study concludes. Cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have diagnosed heart disease. The time and mode of death are unexpected. It occurs instantly or shortly after symptoms appear.

New link between diabetes, Alzheimer's found Posted: 04 May 2015 01:33 PM PDT A unique connection between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease has been uncovered by researchers, providing further evidence that a disease that robs people of their memories may be affected by elevated blood sugar.

Premature birth alters brain connections Posted: 04 May 2015 12:49 PM PDT Premature birth can alter the connectivity between key areas of the brain, according to a new study. The findings should help researchers to better understand why premature birth is linked to a greater risk of neurodevelopmental problems, including autistic spectrum disorders and attention deficit disorders.

Researchers 'un-can' the HIV virus Posted: 04 May 2015 12:49 PM PDT If the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a bit like a hermetically sealed tin, can no one has yet been able to break open. The good news is that researchers have now identified a way to use a "can opener" to force the virus to open up and to expose its vulnerable parts, allowing the immune system cells to then kill the infected cells.

Scientists dramatically improve method for finding common genetic alterations in tumors Posted: 04 May 2015 11:19 AM PDT Scientists have developed a significantly better computer tool for finding genetic alterations that play an important role in many cancers but were difficult to identify with whole-genome sequencing. The tool is an algorithm called CONSERTING, short for Copy Number Segmentation by Regression Tree in Next Generation Sequencing.

Recurrence of prostate cancer detected earlier with innovative PSMA-ligand PET/CT Posted: 04 May 2015 11:18 AM PDT A recent study compared use of the novel Ga-68-PSMA-ligand PET/CT with other imaging methods and found that it had substantially higher detection rates of prostate-specific membrane antigen in patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. It is especially noteworthy that this hybrid PSMA-ligand identified a large number of positive findings in the clinically important range of low PSA-values.

Cellular bubbles used to deliver Parkinson's meds directly to brain Posted: 04 May 2015 11:18 AM PDT Exosomes could help with longstanding medical issues from cancer diagnosis to sophisticated research tool. Now, they could potentially help with delivering potent antioxidants into the brain of Parkinson's patients.

Puget Sound's clingfish could inspire better medical devices, whale tags Posted: 04 May 2015 11:18 AM PDT Researchers are looking at how the biomechanics of clingfish could be helpful in designing devices and instruments to be used in surgery and even to tag and track whales in the ocean. Clingfish are considered one of the world's best suction cups, scientists say.

Detecting knee-cushion problems early could lead to better treatments Posted: 04 May 2015 10:05 AM PDT The menisci, best known as the shock absorbers in the knee, help disperse pressure, reduce friction and nourish the knee. Now, new research shows even small changes in the menisci can hinder their ability to perform critical knee functions.

Moderate exercise may make cancer treatments more effective, kinesiologist finds Posted: 04 May 2015 10:05 AM PDT Kinesiology research offers encouraging information for cancer patients: A brisk walk or a slow jog on a regular basis may be the key to improved cancer treatments. Research also has shown that moderate exercise can help cancer patients counteract some of the side effects of treatment -- such as low blood count, fatigue, cachexia and lost muscle mass -- which has led to many researchers labeling this as "aerobic exercise therapy" for patients with cancer.

Discovery could help reverse glucocorticoid resistance in some young leukemia patients Posted: 04 May 2015 10:05 AM PDT Scientists have identified a mechanism that helps leukemia cells resist glucocorticoids, a finding that lays the foundation for more effective treatment of cancer and possibly a host of autoimmune diseases. The research focused on glucocorticoids, a class of steroid hormones.

How does a mobile DNA sequence find its target? Posted: 04 May 2015 10:03 AM PDT To understand how transposable elements shape genomes, where they are maintained over generations, it is vital to discover the mechanisms behind their targeted integration. Researchers have identified an interaction between two proteins that is essential for the integration of a transposable element into a specific area of the yeast genome.

Youth just as likely to try e-cigarettes as smoking Posted: 04 May 2015 09:32 AM PDT Young people are just as likely to try electronic cigarettes as smoking, according to a new report. The findings reveal that approximately 20 per cent of youth between the ages of 15 and 19 experiment with vaping, the same number who try cigarettes.

Cost-effective expert recommended asthma test underutilized by physicians, study shows Posted: 04 May 2015 09:10 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have found that spirometry was underutilized for asthma diagnosis and management in US adults from 2001 to 2011, despite its accuracy, cost effectiveness and the publication of national guidelines advocating its use. Spirometry is a common test that allows physicians to determine how well a person's lungs work by measuring how much air is inhaled and exhaled as well as how quickly the air is exhaled.

Revolutionary method of making RNAs Posted: 04 May 2015 09:10 AM PDT Scientists -- and ultimately patients -- could benefit from a new approach to making ribonucleic acids.

Study points to possible treatment for lethal pediatric brain cancer Posted: 04 May 2015 09:10 AM PDT Using brain tumor samples collected from children in the United States and Europe, an international team of scientists found that the drug panobinostat and similar gene regulating drugs may be effective at treating diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, an aggressive and lethal form of pediatric cancer.

School competitive food policies appears tied to neighborhood socioeconomics Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT Policy changes in California to make the food and beverages that compete with school meal programs more healthy for students appear to have improved childhood overweight/obesity prevalence trends, although improvement was better among students attending schools in socioeconomically advantaged neighborhoods.

Study examines incidence of concussion in youth, high school, college football Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT A slight majority of concussions happened during youth football games but most concussions at the high school and college levels occurred during practice, according to a new article.

Kids likely to sleepwalk if parents have history of nocturnal strolls Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT More than 60 percent of children developed sleepwalking when both their parents were sleepwalkers in a study among children born in the Canadian province of Quebec.

Scientists reconcile three unrelated theories of schizophrenia Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT A new study in mice links three previously unrelated hypotheses about the causes of schizophrenia, a debilitating mental disorder that affects how people think, act and perceive reality. The new findings may eventually lead to treatment strategies targeted for the underlying causes of schizophrenia and related disorders.

Foundations of heart regeneration uncovered: Outer layer of heart must be healed first Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT Medical researchers have found that a key to the zebrafish's ability to regenerate cardiac tissue lies in the outer layer of the heart known as the epicardium. When this critical layer is damaged, the whole repair process is delayed as the epicardium undergoes a round of self-healing before tending to the rest of the heart. The finding points to a possible target for repairing the damage caused by a heart attack.

Human clinical trials begin for deadly hendra virus therapy Posted: 04 May 2015 09:05 AM PDT The world's first human clinical trials for a treatment against Hendra virus, a rare but deadly viral disease, have just begun in Australia, using a human monoclonal antibody.

Researchers hope to improve dental health by changing caregiver's behavior Posted: 04 May 2015 08:30 AM PDT Studies have long associated low-income areas with poor oral health. But dental researchers have sensed that other factors related to income may be at work -- in particular, education level. So they recently investigated how a parent or other caregiver's education level and dental habits affect children's dental health.

Personal cues can have a strong effect on craving in individuals with addiction Posted: 04 May 2015 08:29 AM PDT Unique person-specific cues -- such as the presence of a specific friend or hearing a specific song -- appear to have a robust effect on craving addictive substances, a recent study shows. The study also found that person-specific cues may have a longer effect on craving than more general substance-specific cues, such as the presence of bottles, syringes, or lighters.

Psychological technique helps smokers quite tobacco Posted: 04 May 2015 07:12 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that motivational interviewing can make smokers see tobacco as something disagreeable, thus helping them to quit the habit. Motivational interviewing is a psychological technique of direct intervention that seeks to produce changes in patient behavior.

Sixth DNA base discovered? Posted: 04 May 2015 07:12 AM PDT Is there a sixth DNA base? A team of researchers suggests that the methyl-adenine that would regulate the expression of certain genes in eukaryotic cells could have a specific role in stem cells and in early stages of development.

Impact of family, neighborhood on mental health revealed in comprehensive study Posted: 04 May 2015 07:12 AM PDT A team of researchers from Sweden and the United States has examined the potential role of the family environment and neighborhood factors on mental health outcomes in a new study. The study includes highly detailed data on over 500,000 children in Sweden and covers a timespan of more than a decade. During the course of the study, 4.8 percent of the children developed a psychiatric disorder.

New test predicts sudden cardiac death in hemodialysis patients Posted: 04 May 2015 06:44 AM PDT A new test has been developed to predict sudden cardiac death in hemodialysis patients in whom such forecasts were previously impossible. The novel method uses a combination of nuclear medicine, C-reactive protein and electrocardiogram.

Exposure to air pollution in the first year of life increases risk for allergies Posted: 04 May 2015 06:44 AM PDT Exposure to outdoor air pollution during the first year of life increases the risk of developing allergies to food, mould, pets and pests, new research concludes. The study showed that the sensitivity to allergens was associated with exposure to traffic-related air pollution during infancy.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients at increased risk of surprise heart attack Posted: 04 May 2015 05:25 AM PDT Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk of a surprise heart attack, according to new research. Risk was increased even when patients had no symptoms and was independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking and diabetes, researchers report.

How chickenpox virus can cause a stroke in an HIV patient Posted: 04 May 2015 05:21 AM PDT Varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox in children and shingles in older adults. The virus typically remains dormant in patients with healthy immune systems, but can reactivate if the immune system is compromised. Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can, in rare cases, experience bleeding on the brain that causes a type of stroke called intracerebral hemorrhage.

Researchers find clues that may predict recovery outcomes following total hip replacement Posted: 04 May 2015 05:21 AM PDT A cross-institutional team of researchers has identified a signaling substance (MuIS) that may predict patients who will have poor muscle regeneration outcomes following hip surgery. Testing patients for the presence of MuIS before surgery may help clinicians better plan for those who will need more intensive rehab post-surgery.

Sports: 'Performance enhancing' drugs decrease performance Posted: 04 May 2015 05:21 AM PDT Doping is damaging the image of sport without benefiting athletes' results, according to new research. Researchers collated sporting records (including Olympic and world records) of male and female athletes across 26 sports, between 1886 and 2012. Comparisons were made between pre-1932 records (when steroids became available) and post, and it was found that the times, distances and other results did not improve as expected in the doping era.

Keeping legalized marijuana out of hands of kids Posted: 04 May 2015 05:21 AM PDT As the realities of legalized marijuana take hold in four states and the District of Columbia, legislators and regulators could learn a lot from the successes – and failures – of the tobacco and alcohol industries in keeping their harmful products out of the hands of children and adolescents.

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